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Hanging by a Moment Part Seven

RAW is WAR – Week Five

'Chris.'

It sounded so natural coming from her lips, that he had to smile. 'Hey, Steph. Can I call you that?'

She grinned. 'Well, it's certainly a lot preferable than some of the others ones you've called me last year.'

A twinge of guilt came over that. 'Um, yeah. About that…I'm sorry.'

Stephanie shrugged. 'I'm sure I deserved it. Doesn't matter anymore anyway.' She lost her smile, looking at him sympathetically. 'I'm sorry that you lost the Belt last night.'

Chris wanted to tell her that he'd lose it again if only they could be having this same conversation again. But he just smiled. 'I'll get it again one day, don't worry.'

'Arrogant?'

'Confident.'

She laughed. She laughed. And it was so different from a lot of her evil-like laughs he was used to on TV, and it was so…different. But in a good way. It was…good. And he wanted to say something funny, so that he could hear it again.

But nothing came to mind. Except, 'So, how are you feeling now?'

Then, she smiled. 'I'm doing pretty good. Aches and pains, but I'll survive. I'm-'

'Steph, there you are,' a voice said from behind him. Triple H.

Chris's stomach twisted as he noticed Stephanie's smile brighten. 'Hunter, hey.'

'Jericho,' the other man greeted evenly, his eyes flashing with anger. 'If you'll excuse us.'

'But-'

'I need to talk to you,' Triple H interrupted briskly. Stephanie's smile faltered, and it took all of Chris's willpower to keep from punching the man.

'I'll talk to you later,' she said to him, avoiding his eyes as she walked past.

Man, he hated that asshole.

*

Chris couldn't believe what he was hearing. It couldn't be true…could it? He was dearly hoping that there was something wrong with his hearing, and that he did not just hear what he thought he heard.

But just in case his hearing was just fine, he needed to warn her.

*

He had been too late. Unable to get some alone time with Stephanie before the last match of the night, he could only sit and watch tensely as she and her asshole husband made their way to the ring as guest commentators for that night's main event match. Benoit vs Austin.

Chris wanted to just go out there now, throw Stephanie over his shoulder and escape through the crowd. No one would be expecting it. Then again, she probably wouldn't believe him if he told her what he had overheard earlier.

No, he just had to wait until the time came, and hope that he wouldn't be too late.

So, he waited. And waited.

Five minutes later, he was still waiting, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could wait. His heart was knocking hard against his chest, and the butterflies in his stomach were in a fluttering frenzy, and his palms wouldn't stop sweating.

There – Stephanie and Triple H left their places at the announce table, and with Benoit seemingly unconscious and Austin about to win the belt, they had decided to make their move.

And Stephanie had no clue of what was about to come down.

Chris couldn't wait any longer. If he took too long getting to the ring, then he would be too late. He stood, and raced out towards the damsel in distress, wanting to be her knight in shining armour.

*

SmackDown

'…was a good plan, that was screwed by a certain Chris Jericho!' Regal was saying furiously, with Triple H pacing angrily behind him. 'And I demand that you come out here right now, young man, and you explain your actions.'

Triple H grabbed the microphone from the Commissioner. 'And bring that whore I call a wife with you!'

Beside him, Chris felt Stephanie jerk at the words, and he quickly turned to her. 'It's okay, you don't have to come out.'

However, her face was set with grim determination. 'No, I want to come out. I want him to explain his actions.'

During the past few weeks, watching her wrestle in matches that had her at a great disadvantage, Chris had been surprised at her steely resolve and tenacity. She hadn't backed down from any of those unfair matches, and she was refusing to back down again.

In silence the two of them made their way to the inside of the arena, without any entrance music. The cheers were deafening, and it took awhile for it to recede enough so he could talk on the microphone he had picked up in the back.

But Stephanie stopped him, and asked to speak first. Surprised, he gave it to her, watching warily as she took a step forward, a look of pain on her face. That upset him, because it meant her asshole husband had meant something to her.

'Hunter, I cared about you. I loved you. How could you do that to me?'

Triple H smirked at her from the ring. 'What, you think you're the only woman out there, darling wife? In case you didn't hear, there are plenty of fish out there in this planet sized pond!' The bastard's smirk turned into a sneer. 'Thing is, Stephy-baby, I got bored. If Jericho wants my leftovers, he can have you!'

A chorus of boos from the crowd.

But Chris was watching Stephanie's reaction, and was angered to see tears welling up in her eyes. 'Damn you!' she screamed at him without using the microphone, then turned and ran.

Without thought, he followed her, and caught her just as she reached the outside of the building. 'Steph, wait!'

'Is this what you want?' she cried out, pulling away and looking at him with eyes full of hurt. 'Leftovers?'

Chris reached out and gently wiped away her tears. 'He never deserved you.' He hesitated slightly, not wanting to scare her, as he closed the gap between them.

'I did love him,' she whispered, lowering her head as he wrapped his arms around her. 'It hurts.'

'It'll be okay,' he vowed, holding onto her tightly. 'I promise.'

Stephanie lifted her head, quickly wiped away her tears, and just looked at him for minute. 'For some reason I find myself believing you.'

Chris smiled gently at her. 'That's a start.'

The End